Timeline of Ancient Egypt

The dates within this resource reflect the latest scholarship and follow those put forward by the University of Memphis.

The Predynastic Period (c. 4300-3000 BC)

• Naqada I (Amratian) (c. 4300-3600 BC)

• Naqada II (Gerzean) (c. 3600-3150 BC)

  c. 3200 BC: Hieroglyphic writing is developed.

  

• Naqada III (Semainean) (c. 3150-3000 BC)

The Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000-2675 BC)

• Dynasty 1 (c. 3000-2800 BC)

  2950 BC: Upper and Lower Egypt are united by Menes, the first Pharaoh of Egypt.

  c. 2900 BC: Earliest known use of papyrus as a writing surface.

  

• Dynasty 2 (c. 2800-2675 BC)

The Old Kingdom (c. 2675-2130 BC)

• Dynasty 3 (c. 2675-2625 BC)

  c. 2660 BC: The Step Pyramid of Djoser is constructed at Saqqara.

  

• Dynasty 4 (c. 2625-2500 BC)

  c. 2600 BC: The Bent Pyramid is constructed for Sneferu at Dahshur.

  c. 2575 BC: The Red Pyramid is constructed for Sneferu.

  c. 2570 BC: The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed for Khufu, as well as the Pyramid of Khafre.

  c. 2510 BC: The Pyramid of Menkaure is constructed.

  c. 2500 BC: The Great Sphinx of Giza is constructed for Khafre.

  

• Dynasty 5 (c. 2500-2350 BC)

• Dynasty 6 (c. 2350-2710 BC)

• Dynasties 7-8 (c. 2170-2130 BC)

The First Intermediate Period (c. 2130-1980 BC)

• Dynasties 9-10 (c. 2130-1970 BC)

• Dynasty 11, Part I (c. 2081-1980 BC)

The Middle Kingdom (c. 1980-1630 BC)

• Dynasty 11, Part II (c. 1980-1938 BC)

  c. 1950 BC: The Temple of Karnak is constructed.

  

• Dynasty 12 (c. 1938-1759 BC)

  c. 1900 BC: The White Pyramid is constructed at Dahshur for Amenemhat II.

  c. 1830 BC: The Black Pyramid is constructed for Amenemhat III.

• Dynasty 13 (c. 1759 – after 1630 BC)

• Dynasty 14 (dates uncertain, but contemporary with later Dynasty 13) 

  c. 1650 BC: The chariot is first used in Egypt during the Hyksos invasion.

  

The Second Intermediate Period (c. 1630-1539/1523 BC)

• Dynasty 15 (c. 1630-1523 BC)

• Dynasty 16 (dates unknown: minor Hyksos rulers, contemporary with Dynasty 15)

• Dynasty 17 (c. 1630-1539 BC)

The New Kingdom (c. 1539-1075 BC)

• Dynasty 18 (c. 1539-1292 BC)

  c. 1530 BC: Ahmose I (r. 1550-1525 BC) defeats the Hyksos and reunites Upper and Lower Egypt.

  c. 1500 BC: Pharaohs start to be buried in the Valley of the Kings.

  c. 1479 BC: Hatshepsut (r. 1479-1458 BC) becomes Pharaoh.

  c. 1465 BC: The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is constructed.

  1458 BC: Thutmose III (r. 1458-1425 BC) becomes Pharaoh after the death of Hatshepsut.

  c. 1400 BC: The Temple of Luxor is constructed.

  c. 1388 BC: Amenhotep III (r. 1388-1351 BC) becomes Pharaoh.

  c. 1351 BC: Akhenaten (r. 1351-1334 BC) becomes Pharaoh. He would later abandon traditional religion in favour of Aten.

  c. 1332 BC: Tutankhamun (r. 1332-1323 BC) becomes Pharaoh.

  

• Dynasty 19 (c. 1292-1190 BC)

  1279 BC: Ramesses II (r. 1279-1213 BC) becomes Pharaoh.

  1274 BC: Battle of Kadesh.

  c. 1264 BC: Abu Simbel is constructed.

  

• Dynasty 20 (c. 1190-1075 BC)

The Third Intermediate Period (c. 1075-656 BC)

• Dynasty 21 (c. 1075-945 BC)

• Dynasty 22 (c. 945-712 BC)

• Dynasty 23 (c. 838-712 BC)

• Dynasty 24 (c. 727-712 BC)

• Dynasty 25 (c. 760-656 BC)

  c. 671 BC: The Neo-Assyrian Empire invades Egypt.

  

The Late Period (c. 664-332 BC)

• Dynasty 26 (c. 664-525 BC)

  609 BC: The Battle of Megiddo.

  525 BC: The Achaemenid Persian Empire invades Egypt.

  

• Dynasty 27 (Achaemenid Satrapy) (c. 525-404 BC)

• Dynasty 28 (c. 404-399 BC)

• Dynasty 29 (c. 399-380 BC)

• Dynasty 30 (c. 380-343 BC)

  c. 370 BC: The Temple of Isis on Philae is constructed.

  343 BC: The Achaemenid Persian Empire invades Egypt again.

  

• Dynasty 31 (Achaemenid Satrapy) (c. 343-332 BC)

The Macedonian Period (c. 332-305 BC)

• 332 BC: Alexander the Great invades Egypt and founds the city of Alexandria.

  

• 323 BC: Alexander the Great dies at Babylon.

The Ptolemaic Kingdom (c. 305-30 BC)

• 305 BC: Ptolemy I Soter founds the Ptolemaic dynasty.

  

• c. 280 BC: The Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria are founded.

• 237 BC: The Temple of Edfu is constructed.

  

• c. 180 BC: The Temple of Kom Ombo is constructed.

• 54 BC: The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is constructed.

  

• 30 BC: Cleopatra VII commits suicide and Egypt is annexed by the Roman Empire.

  

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